Post on 03-Aug-2020
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Virtuous Woman!
An Exposition of Biblical Womanhood
as God gives us in Proverbs 31
By
Ryan M Marks
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Virtuous Woman! An Exposition of Biblical
Womanhood as God gives us in Proverbs 31 Copyright © 2014 Ryan M. Marks
First Edition
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in
a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic,
mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief
quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the
publisher.
Scripture quotations marked
KJV are from The Holy Bible, KING JAMES VERSION. Public Domain.
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Let’s begin with a Word of caution from the Scriptures
themselves:
Outline of Proverbs 31
A Couple of Other Passages to Dwell and Listen to the Holy
Spirit On:
About the Author
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Introduction
This book is dedicated to all the women of God in the Body of Christ—may you be virtuous women of God! While the Bible does not have volumes in length written about womanhood, it has volumes contained in its doctrines on the subject whose depths are both simple and understandable and yet profound and demanding a life time of study and contemplation. In this book I hope to encourage the reader to probe more deeply into Scripture and to cast vision for what God calls a virtuous woman in the Bible.
Dear reader, may you raise your daughters to be such women. Women, may you be encouraged to be the feminine person that God has called you to be and be set free from the bonds of modern day Feminism and false doctrines that have
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been drilled into you by legalistic teaching—may you be wise women! Virtuous women! Holy Women! Gentle Women! Who love their husbands, children, and Christ Jesus our Lord!
Grace and Peace to you in our Lord Jesus Christ,
Ryan Marks
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Let’s begin with a Word of caution
from the Scriptures themselves:
A foolish woman is clamorous: she is
simple, and knoweth nothing. 14 For she
sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat
in the high places of the city, 15 To call
passengers who go right on their ways: 16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in
hither: and as for him that wanteth
understanding, she saith to him,
17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread
eaten in secret is pleasant. 18 But he
knoweth not that the dead are there; and
that her guests are in the depths of hell.
Proverbs 9:13-18
The foolish woman, God says, is clamorous and simple. She doesn’t really know anything. She sits at the door of her
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house or on a seat in the high places calling out to those who pass by, especially those who are on the straight and narrow path to drag them down. The things she offers within her walls are secret things that may appear sweat at first, but those who go to her are as good as dead. This is an accurate depiction of the Hollywood woman of today—the worldly woman who has no bonds to God, Faith, household, or conscience.
God’s plan is so much more for women! God created woman as a helper to the man (Gen 2), and the weaker vessel at that, so that she would be cherished, protected, and valued. Christian culture has uplifted women to a place of virtue and respect if you study history, whereas socialist regimes and cruel dictatorships just treat women as another worker or an
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instrument of sensual pleasure which they dispose of at will.
God loves you, woman of God! He even goes so far in His Word as to use a pure woman as symbol of His beloved Church—the pure and spotless Bride that Jesus is coming back for to eternally wed and never be separated from, but to eternally abide together in relationship in His Kingdom!
Let’s look at how God describes a virtuous woman (hint: as a jewel of great price—you’re worth so much more than
you know to God):
10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for
her price is far above rubies. 11 The heart
of her husband doth safely trust in her, so
that he shall have no need of spoil. 12 She
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will do him good and not evil all the days
of her life. 13 She seeketh wool, and flax,
and worketh willingly with her hands. 14 She is like the merchants' ships; she
bringeth her food from afar. 15 She riseth
also while it is yet night, and giveth meat
to her household, and a portion to her
maidens. 16 She considereth a field, and
buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she
planteth a vineyard. 17 She girdeth her
loins with strength, and strengtheneth her
arms. 18 She perceiveth that her
merchandise is good: her candle goeth not
out by night. 19 She layeth her hands to
the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. 20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor;
yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the
needy. 21 She is not afraid of the snow for
her household: for all her household are
clothed with scarlet. 22 She maketh herself
coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk
and purple. 23 Her husband is known in
the gates, when he sitteth among the
elders of the land. 24 She maketh fine
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linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles
unto the merchant. 25 Strength and
honour are her clothing; and she shall
rejoice in time to come. 26 She openeth
her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue
is the law of kindness. 27 She looketh well
to the ways of her household, and eateth
not the bread of idleness. 28 Her children
arise up, and call her blessed; her husband
also, and he praiseth her. 29 Many
daughters have done virtuously, but thou
excellest them all. 30 Favour is deceitful,
and beauty is vain: but a woman that
feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and
let her own works praise her in the gates.
Proverbs 31:10-31
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Outline of Proverbs 31
10 Who can find a virtuous woman?
for her price is far above rubies.
A virtuous woman is rare. When God
brings her into your life men, she is
someone to seek the Lord about! Is she the
one whom God would have you wed? (Gen.
24, Matt. 1:20, Hosea 1:2).
The woman who is virtuous has virtue,
that is, a particular moral excellence; as
the virtue of temperance, of chastity, of
charity…or that which constitutes value or
merit…the practice of moral duties and the
abstaining from vice…a conformity of life
and conversation to the moral law…the
practice of moral duties from sincere love
to God and his laws (Webster’s 1828
Dictionary)
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The woman with the quality of virtue is
for more valuable than a castle full of
rubies!
11 The heart of her husband doth
safely trust in her, so that he shall
have no need of spoil.
She can be trusted, you will not have a
doubt that this woman will cause you harm
and discredit your reputation or ministry—
your calling that she labors alongside you
in, men. No, she is woman of virtue who
can be trusted. The heart of her husband
safely trusts in her and I dare say that He is
exceedingly grateful to God for her!
12 She will do him good and not evil
all the days of her life.
She won’t bring her husband harm but
good! Not just one day or two days, but her
whole life! No one else, not mother, not
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Christian sister, not father, not Christian
brother can do the same!
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and
worketh willingly with her hands.
She is diligent. She seeks the
components of things which she wants to
make and willingly (not under compulsion
or disdain note) works with her hands. She
loves to work!
14 She is like the merchants' ships;
she bringeth her food from afar.
15 She riseth also while it is yet night,
and giveth meat to her household,
and a portion to her maidens.
Her home, that is, her household [her
family] not the house is her priority. She is
like the merchant ships that go far away to
get produce—she does the same for her
household. She even gets up while it is still
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night and prepares food not only for her
own household, but for her servant girls
(those who work for her).
16 She considereth a field, and
buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands
she planteth a vineyard.
She is wise and frugal. She has both skill
and discernment to determine whether or
not to buy a field and make it profitable.
With the fruit of her own labor (her hands)
she plants a vineyard—a hard and laborious
task, seeing the benefit that will come later
on down the road.
17 She girdeth her loins with
strength, and strengtheneth her
arms. 18 She perceiveth that her
merchandise is good: her candle
goeth not out by night.
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She isn’t afraid of hard work. Her torso
is strong and so are her arms for her work.
She is able to perceive (see ahead) that her
work—the merchandise she’s producing—
is good and she even works into the night
with a vision for what the future return will
be.
19 She layeth her hands to the
spindle, and her hands hold the
distaff.
She manages her time well. Even multi-
tasking—see the spindle and distaff—she
knows her craft and works with her tools.
She was working on a field before, now she
is working wool or some other kind of
material to produce merchandise that will
likewise be profitable—either to sell or to
clothe her own household.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the
poor; yea, she reacheth forth her
hands to the needy.
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But that is not all, no she is not so
consumed in her work that she has grown
greedy and cold for she is kind to the poor
and generous. She seeks to bless those in
need and care for the outcast. Studying
history, Christian women have begun many
charities and touched many lives as they
reach out to the poor. O what a gift the
virtuous woman is to her family and society
as she does things that her husband does
not have the time for as he provides for his
household!
21 She is not afraid of the snow for
her household: for all her household
are clothed with scarlet.
Her heart is for her home and she
lovingly prepares for them (whether it be
meals, education, prayer, clothing, a hug,
encouragement—the motherly nurture that
only a woman can give).
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We see here that she is prepared and not
afraid; if snow comes, so what? Her
household is ready.
22 She maketh herself coverings of
tapestry; her clothing is silk and
purple.
Purple is a symbol of royalty and we see
that she is well dressed (modest and
womanly); not scantily clad—even in
clothing that she has made with her own to
hands. The skill of being able to make
clothing is one that is far more valuable
than many realize. When women largely
made the clothing for their own
households, including themselves,
generally there was much more modest
clothing on the average Joe than today’s
shopping selections that many Christian
women bring home. O that we would heed
the pattern of the Scripture! God has a way
which He has ordained for the virtuous
woman to walk and her way is a glorious
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way. For she is a woman who fears God,
loves her family, is kind to the poor and is
skilled in many things and able to be the
manager of her entire family economy. She
is not a mere “cook and clean.” No, she is
such an asset—of invaluable worth to her
family! What a blessing she is!
23 Her husband is known in the
gates, when he sitteth among the
elders of the land.
Her husband is respected, probably
because of her for his heart safely trusts in
his wife—he has no fear that she will not be
faithful to him or foolish in her dealings in
this world. Further we see that he could not
be an elder if he had a quarrelsome and
gossiping wife in the Pastoral Epistles. But
a wife of virtue! She will exalt him before
others and give him credibility to serve
others as a leader. Woman, you are so
important. God has given you a particular
role and function in His body and the
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family unit for glorious purposes. Your
honorable role and design that feminists
call “demeaning” is an essential component
in God’s design. Don’t think you’re
worthless—God place immeasurable worth
upon you yea “greater than rubies.”
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth
it; and delivereth girdles unto the
merchant.
She has practical wisdom—she is
involved in manufacturing for the
merchants. She supplies the merchants!
How’s that for decentralization and
entrepreneurship! She is such a blessing to
not only her family, but the natural
economy. Are you beginning to see how
God’s design for women as pictured in
Proverbs 31 is a national blessing? O how
exciting it is to see just a glimpse of what
the implications of God’s design are!
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25 Strength and honour are her
clothing; and she shall rejoice in time
to come.
She is strong and worthy of honor! She
has spiritual clothing of strength and honor
that can be seen by those around her. Have
you ever been in the presence of someone
who was a resolute hero of the faith? They
have consistently fought the good fight for
the Faith and when you stand in your
presence, you just sense the honor and
strength God has given them in His
service? The virtuous woman is like that!
She shall rejoice in time to come!
26 She openeth her mouth with
wisdom; and in her tongue is the law
of kindness.
She is prudent (wise) and kind—a woman
of a gentle and quiet spirit which is of great
worth in God’s sight (1 Peter 3).
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27 She looketh well to the ways of
her household, and eateth not the
bread of idleness.
There is no doubt, she is not a sloth, but
a woman who serves her family out of love
for them—she isn’t idle, but diligent. O
what character!
28 Her children arise up, and call
her blessed; her husband also, and
he praiseth her.
Her children and husband recognize her
virtue and praise her. The sad reality of the
feminist, and many of them have related it,
that in their old age they have no husband
to praise them nor any children, whom they
grieve that they did not have because they
were so consumed in a quest for the
feminist agenda, or status, or a career that
marriage and a family never became part of
the package. Or perhaps she did have a
husband and children, but because she did
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not submit herself to God’s design, her
children and husband never really saw any
virtue worthy of praise—just a woman who
was their mother, but whose priority was
not her household, but a career or some
other self-centered pursuit. May you seek
the Lord first (Matt 6:33) and make your
chief priority your household, dear women
reading!
29 Many daughters have done
virtuously, but thou excellest them
all.
In the eyes of her husband, she excels
all other women in virtue and character. In
the eyes of God, she is a precious jewel, a
gem of womanly virtue as He designed it. In
the eyes of her children, she is the best
mother in all the world—such a blessing!
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is
vain: but a woman that feareth the
LORD, she shall be praised.
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Note: Favor, other translations say
charm.
Favor in this sense or charm is
deceptive. Flirtation is deceptive. But a
woman who fears the Lord—SHE IS
A GIFT OF GREAT WORTH—SHE
CANNOT BE BOUGHT! O that more
young women would apply themselves to
fearing the Lord continually! Far too many
are studying to flirt and be charming when
they do not even realize that natural beauty
or skill at getting men’s attention really
don’t matter at all—having character that
God calls her to, and that is honorable, is
the important thing.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands;
and let her own works praise her in
the gates.
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Let the Fruit of the virtuous woman’s
labors be given to her. Let the deeds that
she has done praise her in the gates!
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A Couple of Other Passages to Dwell and
Listen to the Holy Spirit On:
But speak thou the things which become
sound doctrine: 2 That the aged men be
sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith,
in charity, in patience. 3 The aged
women likewise, that they be in
behaviour as becometh holiness, not
false accusers, not given to much wine,
teachers of good things; 4 That they may
teach the young women to be sober, to
love their husbands, to love their
children, 5 To be discreet, chaste,
keepers at home, good, obedient to their
own husbands, that the word of God be
not blasphemed. 6 Young men likewise
exhort to be sober minded. 7 In all things
shewing thyself a pattern of good works:
in doctrine shewing uncorruptness,
gravity, sincerity, 8 Sound speech, that
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cannot be condemned; that he that is of
the contrary part may be ashamed,
having no evil thing to say of you. 9 Exhort servants to be obedient unto
their own masters, and to please them
well in all things; not answering again;
10 Not purloining, but shewing all good
fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine
of God our Saviour in all things. 11 For
the grace of God that bringeth salvation
hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us
that, denying ungodliness and worldly
lusts, we should live soberly,
righteously, and godly, in this present
world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope,
and the glorious appearing of the great
God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14 Who gave himself for us, that he
might redeem us from all iniquity, and
purify unto himself a peculiar people,
zealous of good works. 15 These things
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speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all
authority. Let no man despise thee.
Titus 2:1-15
Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to
your own husbands; that, if any obey not
the word, they also may without the
word be won by the conversation of the
wives; 2 While they behold your chaste
conversation coupled with fear. 3 Whose
adorning let it not be that outward
adorning of plaiting the hair, and of
wearing of gold, or of putting on of
apparel; 4 But let it be the hidden man of
the heart, in that which is not corruptible,
even the ornament of a meek and quiet
spirit, which is in the sight of God of
great price. 5 For after this manner in the
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old time the holy women also, who
trusted in God, adorned themselves,
being in subjection unto their own
husbands: 6 Even as Sara obeyed
Abraham, calling him lord: whose
daughters ye are, as long as ye do well,
and are not afraid with any amazement. 7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with
them according to knowledge, giving
honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker
vessel, and as being heirs together of the
grace of life; that your prayers be not
hindered.
1 Peter 3:1-7
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